stimulated emission depletion microscopy
Quick Summary
Stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy is a superresolution technique that allows for the visualization of details at the nanometer scale, surpassing the diffraction limit of conventional light microscopy. This method, pioneered by Stefan Hell, uses fluorescent dyes and two laser beams.12
The first laser excites fluorescent molecules within the sample. The second laser beam, modified to have zero intensity at its center, then depletes the fluorescence in a donut-shaped pattern, effectively turning off fluorescence except from a small central region. By scanning these superimposed beams across the specimen, an image is gradually built up with significantly enhanced resolution, enabling the study of structures like proteins and molecules in living cells. This technique has achieved resolutions down to the single nanometer range.12
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